A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

the most part of his time besides being spent in other places, and yet allowing him no time at all for those places where he certainly was: Eighteen, saith Cortefius; strange that he should be so long absent from his especial Cure, and never write one word to them, for their instruction or consolation; whereas in the mean time he wrote two Epistles unto them, who it seems did not in any special manner belong unto his Charge: I wish we could once find our way out of this maze of uncertainties. This is but a sad disquisition after Principles of faith, to settle men in Religion by them; And yet if we should suppose this also, we are far enough from our journeys end. The present Bishop of Rome is as yet behind the curtain, neither can he appear upon the stage, until h• be ushered in by one pretence more ⟨p. 179⟩of the same nature with them that went before, And this is,

the most part of his time besides being spent in other places, and yet allowing him no time at all for those places where he certainly was: Eighteen, saith Cortefius; strange that he should be so long absent from his especiall Cure, and never write one word to them, for their instruction or consolation; whereas in the mean time he wrote two Epistles unto them, who it seems did not in any speciall manner belong unto his Charge: I wish we could once find our way out of this maze of uncertainties. This is but a sad disquisition after Principles of faith, to settle men in Religion by them; And yet if we should suppose this also, wee are farre enough from our journeys end. The present Bishop of Rome is as yet behind the curtain, neither can he appear upon the stage, untill h• be ushered in by one pretence more ⟨p. 179⟩of the same nature with them that went before, And this is,

V. That some one must needs succeed Peter in his Episcopacy: But why so? why was it not needful that one should succeed him in his Apostleship? Why was it not needful that Paul should have a successor as well as Peter? and John as well as either of them? Because, you say, that was necessary for the Church, not so these. But who told you so? where is the proof of what you aver? who made you judges of what is necessary, and what is not necessary for the Church of Christ, when himself is silent? And why is not the succession of an Apostle necessary as well as of such a Bishop as you fancy? had it not been better to have had one still residing in the Church, of whose Infallibility there could have been no doubt or question? One that had the power of working Miracles, that should have no need to scare the people by shaking fire out of his sleeve, as your Pope Gregory the 7th was wont to do, if Cardinal Benno may be believed. But you have now carried us quite off from the Scripture, and Story, and probable conjectures, to attend unto you whilst you give the Lord Jesus prudential advice, about what is necessary for his Church; It must needs be so, it is meet it should be so, is the best of your proof in this matter: Only your fratres Walenburgici add, that never any man ordained the Government of a Community more weakly, than Christ must be supposed to have done the Government of his Church, if he have not appointed such a Successor to Peter as you imagine. But it is easy for you to assert what you please of this nature, and as easy for any one to reject what you so assert if he please. These things are without the verge of Christian Religion; […] Towers and Palaces in the air: But what must St Peter be succeeded in? his Episcopacy